Based in Sweden now for over 20 years, Blessed marks my introduction to Epic Doom Metal band Faith. Their music is something of a blend of early Tad Morose, Candlemass, Progressive Rock and Swedish Folk Music (complete with fiddles & old world melodies). The songs are long, the guitars are quite heavy and the vibe is oppressive and menacing.

To be honest, this actually surprised me. Don’t ask me why. Maybe because that I had scarcely only heard of the band in the last year or so, let alone hear any of their material. But all in all, this is quite a strong album. Opening track “Blessed Void Of Bewilderment” is big and heavy…quite epic. “Plska Efter Idai Rye” is an instrumental track beginning as a folk ditty before launching in with the Doom accompaniment to fine effect. This type of thing is what sets Faith apart from other Epic Doom Metal bands. The folk instrumentation pops up again in “Twilight” as added melodic color, but this one is a proper song w/ vocals and all and comes off angry and instense. “Condemned” has a good, head-banging groove tempo similar to something Trouble might do, but still retains its epic feel. Closing, 6-minute instrumental “Leipzigpolska” brings back the folk atmosphere blended with the Metal, but this time carries a little more of an uplifting feel…for the first 2 and a half minutes, that is…then crushing Doom is unleashed upon us in one of the albums heaviest moments during the middle section before segueing back into the original melodies. For a more straight Doom Metal track, “Necropolis” delivers…stark, heavy and moody with monk/choral vocal layers.

All in all, Faith presents an interesting take on Doom Metal and Blessed? is quite enjoyable from beginning to end…well worth seeking out. It manages to incorporate some very un-Doom influences without sacrificing heaviness or pure Doom spirit.

www.faitharmy.com

– Shawn Pelata

[Visit the band's website]

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